State Rep. Cam Cavitt today highlighted two upcoming opportunities for people to weigh in on a new state law that strips away local control over large-scale wind and solar projects.

Cavitt voted against the controversial plan, which gives the Michigan Public Service Commission the ability to force wind and solar farms on local communities with little regard for residents’ concerns or long-established zoning ordinances.

“These meetings are some of the last steps before they start clear cutting our forests and replacing the trees with large windmills and acres of solar panels,” said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. “The public rang my phone off the hook when we voted on this last fall. It’s clear they care about preserving local zoning authority. No one wants to see three governor appointees on the MPSC make decisions for our rural communities. That’s why it’s critical citizens makes their voices heard at these upcoming meetings.”

While House Bill 5120 – now Public Act 233 of 2023 – was approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor along partisan lines, the MPSC is now holding “engagement sessions” to take public comment regarding the details of how the new law will be implemented.

The first two sessions will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, and Tuesday, March 19. The virtual meetings will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. Details on how to join the meetings are available here or at michigan.gov/mpsc under the calendar of events.

According to the MPSC, topics of discussion will include application filing guidelines, application fees, use of consultants, pre-application consultations, the development of compatible renewable energy ordinances, and other issues that arise during the process.

###